Electric motor for toy locomotives



March 31, 1931. w. E. THORN 1,

ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR TOY LOCOMOTIVES Filed March 29,- 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEIQVTOR. WIll amll TH urn A TTORNE YS.

March 31, 1931. w. E. THORN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR TOY LOCOMOTIVES Filed March 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Wlliam E T5 or):

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Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM E. THORN, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE IVES CORPORA- TION, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 01" CONNECTICUT ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR TOY IiOCOKOTIVES Application filed March 29, 1929. Serial No. 350,941.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toy locomotives and more particularly to an electric motor therefor.

My motor frame is particularly designed for use in connection with a so-called steam type of toy locomotive and is adapted to be readily placed in the open underside of the boiler and cab and quickly attached or removed therefrom by means of a few screws,

as occasion may require.

An object of the invention is to provide a motor frame that is higher and larger at its rear end than at its forward end, and one having the motor positioned in said rear end,

to the rear of the rear driving shaft, whereby a direct line of drive gears from armature pinion to first driving wheel gear is made possible. In this connection I have provided an adjustable brush for the motor, including a bearing plate therefor which can be readily gotten at and easily adjusted should occasion require.

A further feature of the invention is to provide ball bearings for all shafts including the motor shaft, the outer member of said bearings being secured to the frame as by a forced fit, while the inner member may be similarly fastened to axle and shafts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a collecting brush, preferably on the motor frame, lnrving its free end resting on a commutator, carried on the driving wheel axle. The object of this brush to u provide a definite path from the wheels for electric current to motor frame in a manner to prevent electrolysis and pitting of the ball bearings.

I also provide adjusting means for the brushes positioned on opposite sides of the armature shaft, better to cut the magnetic lines of force as between the armature and field.

lVith these and other objects in view, the y invention resides and consists in the con struction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size,

and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departure from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Similar characters of reference denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and upon which:

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of my improved electric motor unitfor toy electric locomotives Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a centralvcrtical sectional view of a toy locomotive having my improved motor unit positioned therein, as seen from the opposite side of that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing motorand boiler assembled;

Fig. Gshows a front elevational view of bracket and attached plate for supporting armature shaft and brushes; and Fig. 7 shows an enlarged sectional view of one of the ball bearings used in the motor frame. i

Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon the drawings 10 represents a sleeper, 11 outside track rails and 12 an inner electric third rail, representing in part a track section such as is commercially manufactured and sold in connection with electric toy trains of this class.

The motor frame comprises two opposed companion side plates 13--13 which are secured in parallel spaced relationby pillars M, of which there may be any desired number. These side plates each include an outwardly disposed longitudinal flange 15 having screw holes16 therein'for their attachment, as by means of screws 17 to parts 18 of the boiler member, the boiler bein hollow and constructed to accommodate tfiat portion of the motor. unit extending above said flanges.

The rear portion 19' of these frame plates extend above the flanges 15 and likewise considerably to the rear of the rear driving wheel so as to provide ample room between the said plates for the motor and its connected line of driving gears, also to provide additional room and means for removably supporting a commercial form of reversing unit 21, which is secured inthe frame by means of screws 22. This extended and enlarged portion of the frame, with motor, gears and reversing unit can thus be better accommodated in the larger rear cab portion 23 of the locomotive :24, as shown in Fig. 4.

25 represents rear driving wheels whicha-re secured upon axle 26 in any suitable manner 27 bearing members having annular raceways carrying balls 28 that are covered by an outer bearing ring 29 secured in the side plates of the frame in any. suitable manner. The forward driving wheels '30 are also secured upon an axle 31 that is provided with ball beari-ngs32 similar to those forthe rear axle and described above in detail.

A large brass pinion'33 is secured upon the near-end of each axle and adjacent to the inner side of the driving wheels, in a way to turn with the same. These gears are operatively connected byan idler 34 mounted on a ball bearing somewhat like that described and shown in Fig.7, though supported upon a stud 35 secured in the near side plate '13 of the frame so as to provide a direct and dependable driving means from one large gear to the other.

36lrepresents a motor that-is detachably mounted between the side plates of the frame which are spaced to form a relatively large opening therebetween, better to permit the motor parts to be placed in position. This motor includes a field member 37 mounted in the frame and an armature-38 carried upon a shaft 39, which like the axles for the driving wheels, is provided with ball bearings. The inner members 40 of these hearings are secured to the ends of the shaft 39 while the outer ring members 41 are set in holes in brackets 42 and 43 secured to the frame plates. A plate 44 is adj ustably secured to theinner side of bracket 42 and serves to support oppositely disposed brushes 45 radially positioned with respect to thearmature shaft, to cut the magnetic lines of force, as between the armature and frame.

This armature shaft 39 also carries a pinion 46 which meshes with and drives a larger pinion 47 mounted upon an outer ball bearing sleeve 48 and to which a smaller pinion 49 is also secured, the latter gear being in -mesh with the large gear 33 upon'the rear-axle for rear driving wheel. The bearing sleeve/18 forms the-outer member of a ball bearing for supporting the said pinions 47 and 49,, the inner ring member 50 being secured upon a stud 51 secured to the frame 15, there being a series of balls in race-ways of the twojs'aid members 48 and 50.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a toy locomotive boiler and cab, of a motor frame secured therein having an enlarged rear end portion in said cab, including driving wheels, gears connecting the same, an electric motor positioned in the rear portion of the frame, and gear drive connections from motor to wheels.

2. In a toy locomotive, "the combination with 'a hollow boiler and cab open upon their underside, the opening of the cab being larger than the boiler, a motor frame positioned therein and having an enlarged rear portion entering the cab, driving wheels, an electric motor positioned in said enlarged rear portion of the frame and cab, driving connections from motor to driving wheels.

3. A toy electric motor including a frame having an enlarged rear end portion, driving wheels carried by the frame, an electric motor positioned in said enlarged rear portion of the frame, and gear connections between the motor and drive Wheels.

4. A toy electric motor including a frame havingan enlarged rear end portion, driving wheels carried by the frame, gears connecting said driving wheels, an electric motor positioned in said enlarged rear portion of the frame, and gear-connections between the motor and drive wheels. i

5. A toy electric motor including a frame having an enlarged rear end portion, driving wheels carried by the frame, an electric mo'-,

tor p'ositionedin saidenlarged rear portion of the frame, an electric reversing unit also positioned in the enlarged portion of the frame.

6. Atoy electric motor including a frame having a portion extended out beyond one-of the driving wheels, driving'wheels carried by the frame,-;an electricmotor mounted in said extended ,portion,a brush holder adjustably secured to the frame for the motor armature, and driving connections from the said motor armature to the said driving wheels.

7. A motor unit including a frame having horizontally disposed flanges along its 'upper edge portion and having rear portions 'ex-- tending above said flanges, a pair of driving wheels positioned in the frame beneath the flange portion and a second pair of drive wheels positioned in the enlarged portion of said frame, a gear connecting the two said driving wheels, a motor anddriving connections positioned to the rear of the rear pair of driving wheels and connected therewith to drive the same.

8. A motor unit including a frame having an enlarged extended rear portion, two pairs of driving wheels rotatably mounted in the frame, gears connecting the two said pairsof driving wheels, a motor positioned in the enlarged end of the frame, v and direct gear driving connections to one of the said driving wheels.

9. In a toy locomotive, a frame including side plates having flanges along part of their upper edges, a hollow boiler and cab open on its under side and secured to said flanges, a part of said frame extending into said cab, driving Wheels on said frame, an electric motor within that portion of the frame extending into the cab, and a driving connection from said motor to one of said driving wheels.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, this 21st 15 day of March, A. D. 1929.

-WILLIAM E. THORN. 

